My touch screen was completely smashed, unresponsive and black. The phone however was still responsive and I could access all my files via USB. I needed to send the phone back and wanted to do a factory reset before doing so. But there was no way to do this without a touchscreen or locking the phone (which I didn't want to do before sending it back). The phone's last state was not in debugging mode, so Echo software wouldn't work. Google device manager wouldn't work, because it would force a lock on the phone. Verizon Cloud wouldn't work because it needs the touch screen. A hard reset (holding down 3 buttons etc) wouldn't work because of the menu selection it brings up before the factory reset.
Fast forward 6 hours later...
Samsung has a tool called Kies 3 (download here for pc: http://www.samsung.com/us/smart-switch/). Install the software on your pc, connect your smashed touchscreen phone via USB, and select Tools - Firmware upgrade and Intialization. Even if your device is running the latest firmware, just "upgrade" it to the existing version and BOOM, it does a factory reset via USB! Worked for me just fine, the first time (I did have to update my usb drivers to do it, which Kies prompted for).
I've looked in many forums, and many blogs and never found a way to do what I was looking for. So, thought I would just pay it forward.
Fast forward 6 hours later...
Samsung has a tool called Kies 3 (download here for pc: http://www.samsung.com/us/smart-switch/). Install the software on your pc, connect your smashed touchscreen phone via USB, and select Tools - Firmware upgrade and Intialization. Even if your device is running the latest firmware, just "upgrade" it to the existing version and BOOM, it does a factory reset via USB! Worked for me just fine, the first time (I did have to update my usb drivers to do it, which Kies prompted for).
I've looked in many forums, and many blogs and never found a way to do what I was looking for. So, thought I would just pay it forward.